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Ex Libris
HENRY ROUSE VIETS
g<L3*^>g>0^>£>£>£>^
^Harvard Medical Library
in the Francis A. Countway
Library of Medicine ^Boston
VERITATEM PER MEDICIXAM CW/ERAMUS
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2011 with funding from
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http://www.archive.org/details/plaineasiemethodOOwill
Libellum hunc de Pefte, dignum
judicamus, qui Imprimatur.
Gualt.Charleton, Prajes
Collegii Regalis Me-
dicor. Londinenf.
Tho.Burwen
XGojdon. r Cenfores
WiL Dawes, f }
ThaGill. }
TtzuSepemb. $. i<$90'
In Comitiis Cenforiis ex Edihus Col-
legit noflr'u
A
Plain and Eafie Method
FOR
Preferving [by ftoVt ttttflftlg ]
thofe that are WELL from the
Infe&ion of the
PLAGUE,
Or any
Contagious Diftemper,
In
CITY, CAMP, FLEET, ®c.
AND
For Curing fuch as are Infe&ed
with it.
Written in the Year 1666.
By Tho. Willis, M. D. late Sidney Profef-
for in Oxford, and a Member of the
Royal Society and Colledgeof Phy-
ficians in London.
Never before Printed.
LONDON, Printed for W. 0Sfc» at the Green-
Dragon, without Temple-Bar, 1 691.
\
TO THE
READER.
Goad Reader,
HAving been hi-
therto very a-
verfefromPub-
lifhing any of
Dr. Willis's Pofthumous
Works, becaufe it may
be prefumd that they
want his laft Hand to
compleat them ; and for
a that
1h Preface.
that Reafon, giving no
ear till now to any En-
treaties of that kind,
though never fo pow-
erful, or never fo im-
portunate: I think my
felf oblig'd to give the
World iome Account
why I alter'd my mind
as to this particular, and
did at length fufFer my
felf to be prevail'd with
to Print the follow-
ing Treatife, it being
now Fifteen Years after
his Death 5 and it is
briefly this ; A worthy
Friend
The Vreface.
Friend and an old Ac-
quaintance of mine, de~
uring if I knew of,
or could procure any
choice and approv'd Re-
ceipts againlt the Plague,
that I would furnilh
him with lome for a
Friend of his, for the
prefervation of whole
Health he had a lingu-
lar concern, and who
was going in the late
Embaffie to Conftant-inopk,
where that Diftemper
then was, and did fre-
quently rage : I pro-
a 2 mis'd
the Vreface.
mis'd to ufe my utmoft
endeavours to fupply
him j and calling to
mind this fhort Tra6t,
which I tranfcrib'd from
the Doctor's Papers in
the Year 1666 , being
then his Amanuen/ts ; I
knew it would far ex-
ceed whatioever I could
elfewhere obtain, or pre-
tend to colled: upon
this Subject : Where-
upon I allow 'd him to
take a Copy of it for
his Friend's ufe, upon
condition he would not
make
The Vreface.
make it publick. But
not long flnce a fufpi-
cious Sicknefs having
feiz'd their Majefties
Army in Ireland, the
fame Perfon was very-
much of opinion, that
the Printing of it might
do great fervice, fhould
that Difeafe prove Pe-
ftilential j and urg'd
fuch Arguments , as
made me to be alfo of
the fame perfwafion ;
efpecially , he having
fhewd the Copy to fe-
veral of the molt e-
minent
the Preface.
minent Phyficians a-
mongft us, whofe opi-
nion it was, as he afford
me, that the Publilh-
ing of it might be of
very great ufe, it be-
ing a charitable inftru-
6tion in cafes of great
danger, for fucn as
cannot procure the at-
tendance of Phyficians:
I muft needs own, that
I could not withftand
the judgment of fuch
Perfons.
The regard I have al-
ways had, and {hall frill
have
Tbe Preface.
have for the Reputation
and Memory of my dear
Ma(ter, and befh Friend,
will not, I prefume, be
thought to leflen, by
my giving way upon
thefe terms to this Pub-
lication i fince it is fo
earneflly deiir'd, and lb
well efteem'd of : And
the Good that is aim'd at
by it can be no ill Apo-
logy for
Thy Friend and Servant,
*fer^: J. Hemming
[I ]
A Plain and Eafie
M E T HOD, &c.
IN time of f^fttlettce, be-
caufe a Phyfician cannot
eafily, or often, be con-
faked with 5 Therefore it
behovcth all Perfons, as well
Poor as Rich, to be furnidfd
with Remedies againft that Con-
tagious Difeafe 5 and certain Rules,
or a Method how to ufe them :
Which Method being very plain,
and almoft the fame to all
People, confifts chiefly in thefe
B two
[i]
two Parts, viz: l^Ott) tO PJt-
Cerise tl)t S2Bi)ole from eafee*
*ng infection 5 %m %m to
cure tije Mm tijat are in
fecfeix
Touching the Fir ft j Though
the fureft way is to fly from it,
yet in regard this cannot be done
by all, feme Means fhould be
us'd to fecure \jb far as k is pof-
fible] thofe that are forced to
ftay by it. Such Means of fd}&
&£BtiOtt 5 either concern the
Publick Magiftrate, which are
already fiifficiently known, and
commonly pradtis'd in all places
that are infected, and it would
be fuperfluous to repeat them
here 5 Or elfe fuch as belong to
private Perfons, what ways eve-
ry Man that lives in, or near
an infe&ed place, may arm him-
: [3]
felf againft the danger of Con-
tagion 3 Which fhould be en-
deavoured, as well by purifying
the Air we breathe, as alfo by
fortifying our felves againft
taking the Infection ' at our
Noftrils, Mouth, or Pores of
the Body, which are the chiefeft,
if not the only parts the Poifon
creeps in at.
That the 3ftt we breathe in
may be wholefome, all Things,
that may advance or add to the
corruption of it, fhould diligent-
ly be removed $■ our Houfes, and
Streets kept clean 5 all Filth, and
whatever may caufe noifom
ftnells, be taken away; and a-
mongft other things, the fmell of
Sope Suds, and Lye, in the waffl-
ing of Clothes, be avoided 3 this,
Experience has taught to be very
B 2 dange-
[4]
dangerous 5 as 'tis obferved by
Dfenicr&coel and Wfonbtt^ti*
Em
Befides the fuppreffing of Va-
pours that may increafe the in-
fection of the %% it is to be
purged of that Malignity it brings
with it from other infedted pla-
ces 5 and this is done by great
Fires, which (hould be continu-
ally kept, except the Weather be
too hot, and by Fumes of Sul-
phur, Nitre, Frankjncenfe, Pitch,
jRofm, Tan, and the like, which
every day ftiould be burnt in
the Room we mod frequent, alio
before our Boors, and on the
tops of our Houfes. Of fimple
Medicines to be us'd for this pur-
pofe, Brimftone is commended
for the beft that is 5 Tis likely
that Vitriol, which partakes much
of
of the like acici Spirit, may be
very proper 5 but in regard 'tis
not eafily combuftible, make
this mixture, and ftrew of
it on Coals in a hot Chafing-
difh.
Hake green Vitriol caU
cind, Saltpeter, and
Sulphur , of each a
pound, beat them well
together, and keep it for
ufe.
In clofe Rooms, and in hot
Weather, Vinegar with Rue,
or Wormwood, chopt [mall,
and evaporated in a perfuming
Tot 3 or elje Peftilential Vi-
negar [as we (ball defcribe]
thrown on a hot Brick? Or
B 3 take
[f]
take Myrrh, Galbanum, A m
moniac, of each half ,an
Ounce 5 boy I thefe in a Quart y
or three Pints of White-
Wine Finegar, 'till they
are all dijfolvd 5 put half a
fpoovful of this at a time
on a hot Brick-
Some commend Slakeing of
Lime* fappoling the fume that
arifeth from iu may piinfie the
Air-. 'Tis poifible, if this be done
with Finegar, either fimple, or
impregnated with Alexipharmacal
Medicines, it may be more ef-*
fedual.
Next to the Cure of the 3lfr,
to render that as wholefom as
we can 5 we muft arm our felves
againft taking in that Malignity,
which [notwkhftanding all means
of
[7]
of purifying it] (hall ftill remain
mixt vith it. Now becaufe the
Spirits are commonly the firft
that receive Infection 5 We muft
fortifie them, that they may not
eafily admit the approaches of
their Enemy, which when they
are in full vigour and expanfion,
they will repel, and as it were
keep off at a diftance5 Therefore
SUiftC and Confluence are a
good f^efttfcatfte againft the
plague: But when the Spirits,
through fear, or want of fup-
ply, do recede, and are fore'd
to give back, the Enemy enters,
and firft fazeth them, and thence
gets into the Blood and Hu-
mors 3 Therefore much ffolftttS
and emptUiefS are baU: But
every one should Eat and Drink
at convenient Hours, in fuch
manner
[8]
manner and meafure, as may
always keep the Spirits lively
and chearful, and endeavour to
compofe his Mind and Affecti-
on againft fear and fadnefs.
But befides keeping the Spi-
rits in a good height, and more
efpecially when that cannot be
done, as in Perfons that are
naturally fearful, and of a ten-
der Confiscation, the Spirits
fhould conftantly, as it were, be
kept arm'd with fuch Remedies
as reiift the Poyfon 5 that is,
the ufe of proper Antidotes a-
gainft the ^iagtte.
I {hall kt down fome 0Jt*
fettoatttJeS to be taken of eve-
ry Morning, and again at Night,
by thofe that live in infe&ed
places.
[9]
Take ofConferve of Wood-
Sorrel four Ounces ;
Confe£fcio Liberans,
and Mithridate, of
each half an Ounce;
Salt of Wormwood
two Drams ; Confection
^/Hyacinth one Dram;
Tormentil Roots, and
fine Bole, of each half
a Dram ,• Peflilential
Vinegar half an Ounce ;
mix all with Syrup of
Citron ; Take as much
as a Nutmeg, Night
and Morning.
For
[ io ]
For the Poorer Sort, that Me-
dicine of the Ancients, may be
proper, viz^
Take of Rue two hand-
fuls,Yigs *»i Walnut-
Kernels, of each twen-
ty four, common Salt half
an Ounce ; Which beat
all together in a Mor-
tar, till it be well mix' d;
Take of it as much as a
Nutmeg every Morning
and Night.
This Medicine may be feveral
ways advanc a, by adding fome
Alexipharmacal Remedies to it,
as by putting Salt of Wormwood,
inftead
[n ]
inftead of common Salt, and
by adding an Ounce of Venice
Treacle, to the whole Compo-
fition.
For thofe that cannot take an
EleRuary, thefe Tablets may be
proper to eat, about one Dram
at a time, two or three times
a day.
Take of the Roots of Vir-
ginian - Snakeweed ,
Zedoary , Contra-
yerva, Species Li-
berans,; of each two
Drams ,• Camphire
two Drams ; mix all
finely ponder 'd, then dif-
folve eight Ounces of
fine
[ 12 ]
fine Sugar in Peftilen-
tial Vinegar $ Boyl
it Candy high, and ad-
ding the Vouder to
it, make all into Lo-
qenges.
For fome that are of a hot-
ter Conititution, and a high
Sanguine Temper, it may be
proper to take every Morning a
fpoonful of Peftilential Vinegar in
a little Carduus water, or plain
Wallnut water; or elfe diink a
draught of Potfet-Dri?ik, made
with a Spoonful of that Vi-
negar.
Let the peftilential ^inegat
be made thus,
Tak?
Take of the Roots of An-
gelica, Butter-Burr,
Tormentil, Elecam-
p2Lt\e,ofeacb half anO time,
Virginian — Snake-
Weed, choice Zedoa-
ry, Contrayerva, of
each three Drams ,-
Leaves of Scordium,
Rue, Goats-Rue, of
each one handful ; Mari-
gold Flowers,Clove-
gilloflowers , of each
half a handful ,• Seeds
of Citron and Cardu-
us, of each two Drams ,•
Cut andbrmfe thefe, and
put
( If)
put them in a Glafs~Bot~
tie, with three Pints of
the kfl Vinegar, to
digeft for ten days.
When the Stomach, by fre-
quent taking of one fort of
%t\i\\Mt, begins to loath it:
In fuch Cafes the life of it may
be changed into foine other:
And if the Stomach withal fhould
be ill, and defective, in Appetite
and Digeftion 3 let the Party take
every Morning, ten or twelve
Drops of dljcfe #j0p?ietatf£,
in plain Wormwood Water, or elie
in Wormwood Wine.
Thofe that have Coughs, and
ill Lungs, may take five or fix
Drops of 25aiCiim of SmipDut,
made thus.
Take
[>5 J
Take Flower of Sulphur,
two Ounces, melt it in an
Earthen Dijh gla^d on
the fire, then put to it
two Ounces of Salt of
Wormwood i fiir it
for a Charter of an Hour,
taking care that it does
not catch fire i Then put
into z>tf/Aloes,Myrrh,
Olibanum, finely pou-
derd, of each one Dram,
0/ Saffron half a Dram }
Keep this ftir ring half a
Quarter of an Hour i
Take it off, and put half
an Ounce of it poudefd,
to
\i6]
to digefl in five or fix
Ounces of good Spirit
of Wine j It mil take
in a Jhort time a very
excellent Tinffiiire : Which
keep for life.
Or elfe this Balfam may be
made with Spritus Tberiacalis
Campboratus, and fo will be
more effe&ual againft the $>iagttt
Or which is more applicable to
ufe,
Put an Ounce of that fon-
der newly made, into a
pretty large Glafs, and
put to it a Quart of
good
[17]
Sack i Set it in a
gentle beat, for three or
four Hours, it will take
a Tinclure : And of this
one may take half a Spoon-
ful at a time : And I
fuppofe two Spoonfuls in
a convenient Vehicle,
may be a good Sudori-
fick to be given one that is
infected.
Though Purging in time of
Peftilence is not good, as SDifc*
tntrtWOeft by frequent Examples
has obferv'd, yet in Cdchochymick,
Bodies, it may be convenient
once in a fortnight, to take a
Dofe of Tillul* Rtijji ; Take
€ hall
[ ,8]
half a Dram at Night, and next
Morning take the wonted An-
tidote, as at other times.
Alto for thofe that live in an
infe&ed Air, that there is fufpicion
that they may daily rake in feme
peftiferous Vapours, which fer-
menting with the Blood and
Humours, may infenfibly at laft
break out in the p>tt 5 it
may.- not be amifs, once or
twice a week, to take pretty
large S&eSfcS in their Beds:
And this to be done, efpecially
if the Party has had any occa-
fion whereby he may fufpect him-
felf to have been more open to
infe&ion, or that he has taken any :
After fuch Sweat he fhould keep
his Chamber the forepart of the
day, till the Pores are reduced to
be as they were before.
To
[ IS]
To provoke fuch a Sweat:
Jake of Venice Trea-
cle, cneDram 5 dijfoke
it in three Ounces of
Carduus Water y add
a Spoonful of Syrup
of Vejiilential Vinegar j
Or take a Draught of
Pofjet-Drink, made with
Vejiilential Vinegar $
In which boyl a few Pe-
tafitis Roots: To pro-
mote and continue the
Sweat, take Poffet-Drink
with Meadow-Sweet,
or elfe with Carduus,
or Marigold-Flowers
kyl'd in it,
C 2 Befides
[ 20 I
Befides the daily and conftant
life of fuch Alexipharmacal Re-
medies, there are other Means,
which occafionally and forne-
times continually fhould be taken.
For in regard we always draw
in the Air at our Noftrils and
Mouth, thefe parts fhould be
well guarded with fome Anti-
dotes, that may keep out the poy-
fonous Vapours from entring in,
and efpecially as often as upon oc-
cafion we are more nearly exposed
to danger of Infection. To this
end, fome things to fmell to, o-
thers to be held in the Mouth,
chewU, and fwallow'd down, are
free -.1 :entlyytq be infilled on.
That which feenis at once to ful-
fil mod of thefe intentions js taking
of Tobacco in a Pipe 5 the Smoke
of this fecures thofe parts which
lye
[21 ]
Jyc opened, and at once inter-
cepts the Contagion from the
Brain, Lungs, and Stomach : Nay
more than this, it ftirs the Blood
and Spirits all the Body over, and
makes them fhake off any poyfon-
ous Matter that adher'd to them :
Infomuch that ZDiemetttOft ac-
counts it not only a Prefervative,
but tells us, that himfelf, when
he was feveral times infe&ed, by
taking five or fix Pipes of Tobacco
together was prefently cur'd. And
amongft us in England 'tis report-
ed, That in the laft great Plague,
no Tobacco-Shop was infedted :
If 'tis not of fo great virtue Ml
amongft us, the reafon is% be-
caufe mod Men have been accu-
ftotned to take it fo cxceffively ;
wherefore it is grown fo familiar
to them, that it produceth no al-
C ^ teration
[22]
teration when it (hould be us'd as
an Antidote.
Befides the frequent ufe of To-
bacco, which doubtlefs in time of
Plague may be profitable for them
that can take it 5 others,andalfoTo-
bacconifts, at Tome times (hould be
furni(hed with fomething to fmell
to when they pafs through infect-
ed VlaczsJVormwood and Ruefialba-
num, Caftor and Vinegar are good :
The vulgar practice of putting
Mithridate, or Treacle, or Tar in
their Noftrils, may be very ufeful3
or to have a Pomander to carry in
ones hand, or put into the top of
a Staff.
Take of the Roots of Con-
trayerva and Virgi-
iiian-Snakeweed poti-
derd*
[ 23 ]
derd, of each Two Drams ;
of the kft Myrrh pon-
der d, half an Ounce ; of
Camphire half a Dram.
Let it be made a Ponder.
Part of this may be enclosed in
a fine Silk Bag, and oftentimes
dip it in Peftikntial Vinegar, and
fo fmell to it. To the other part of
this, add Oyl of Nutmegs by Ex-
preffion, and Oyl of Cap-ivy, of
each a Drain, or as much as will
make it into a Mafs 5 alfo add
of Balfam of Peru one Scruple.
Dip Cotton Wool in Elixir Pro-
prietatis, inclofe it in fine Silk, and
put it in the head of a Staff, or
Civet Box, to fmell to.
For Medicines to hold in the
Mouth, and chew on, Roots of
C 4 Zecfoary,
[ 24 ]
Zedcary, Contrayerva, and Snake-
weed are very good 5 alfo Roots of
Enulacampane,Angelica9 and Mafler-
wort 5 thefe either alone, or ma-
cerated in Vinegar, and dried a-
gain. Myrrh is very excellent:
Some commend Tobacco, and
chew it almoft continually.
Thefe are the chiefeft Remedies
which help to keep Infection out
of the Body. There is yet ano-
ther fort which ferves to let it out,
and carry it away, before it grows
to ahead, viz. Ilfues, which have
been found by often experience
to be good Prefervatives in time
of Plague : For as much as Na-
ture having a conftant vent for
excrementitious matter thrown off
the Blood, by the fame way ex-
pels poyfonous Atoms foon after
they are receiv d into the Body.
Con-
.[ «5 ]
Concerning Rules of Diet I
need not fay much, becaufe fuch
Precepts are commonly known :
Tis to be obferv d in general, that
only wholfome Food flhould be
taken : Very fait Meats, as hang'd
Beef, Bacon, Pork, fait Fiflh, alfo
fhell-Fifh, mod kind of Herbage
and raw Fruit (hould be avoided.
The Meals (hould be moderate,
and eaten in due feafon. Some
Antidotal Things may be taken
with the Meat, or mix'd in the
Sauce 3 Clove Gillofiowers pick-
led, alfo Citron Peel and Juice,
Rasberries, Currants, Pomegranate
Juices, PeftilentialVinegarfind Mu-
ftardjLnzdc with the Seeds of Tkla-
fpiy may be of fome good effedt
Thefe kind of Remedies, and
manner of living, ought chiefly
to be infifted on as Prefervatives
againft
[26]
againft the Plague. Thofe that
are timorous and of tender Con-
futations require a fupport from
the ufe of more means 3 whereas
Perfons that are ftrong, and of a
bold temper, have need of the lefs
Remedies. But 'tis not fafe for a-
ny to be fo confident as to dare to
converfe with infe&ed People, or
live in the midft of Contagion
without any Antidote at all.
In the ufe of means, caution is
to be had,that ftrong and hot Cor-
dials be not too often taken, nor
yet indifferently by all People 3 for
that will inflame the Blood, and
' make it apt to kindle a Fever., which
at fuch times foon turns to the
Plague.
The like caution is to be had
againft immoderate drinking of
Wine 3 though a moderate pro-
portion
[ 27 ]
portion chears and fortifies the
Spirits, yet too much greatly dis-
orders them, and thereby People
are more exposed to take Infection.
Letting of Blood in time of
Plague has been obferv'd to be ve-
ry pernicious 5 fo alfo oft or
ftrong Purging 5 for the Veins
being emptied either way, will
readily fuck in whatever poyfon*
ous Atoms lurk in the outward
Pores of the-Sody, which being
admitted, become the more pre-
valent, becaufe the Spirits being
depauperated, are lefsabletofub-
due or repel them.
Thus much of the way of Pre-
fervation: Next we are to treat
of the Cure of thofe that are in-
fected.
The Cure of the Plague ad-
mits of no Belay ; neither inr
deed
[28]
deed is there need of any deli-
beration what ought to be done 3
but as foon as any one finds
himfelf infe£ted, let him forth-
with take to his Bed, and having
pray d to Almighty God for
his Blefiing, begin to ufe the
Means.
If the Party is much opprefs'd
at his Stomach, and drains to
vomit, or elfe with vomiting
throws up bitter and (linking
Matter j let him prefently take
a large draught of Carduus> or
Camomile Pollet-Drink , and in
it either half a Dram of Salt of
Vitriol, or two Ounces of Liquor
of Squills, and with his finger or
a Feather, fetch up what is con-
tain d in his Stomach 5 but take
no Ancimonial Medicine, that
will work beyond the Stomach.
As
[ 29 1
As foon as he has vomited5 [or if
there is no occafion for this E-
vacuation] let him prefently be
put into a Sweat, and continue
for twelve hours, more or left,
according as his ftrcngth will
hold out, and not fleep in
it, or not till the latter end
of it.
If when he begins to Sweat,
or endeavours it, his Vomiting
ftill perfifts, then apply to the
pit of the Stomach a Toaft of
White- Bread, fpread over with
Treacle or Mithridate, and dipt
in Claret-Wine or Peftileniial Vi-
negar, made Scalding hot in a
Peuter Di(h $ Wrap this in fine
Linnen, and apply it very hot.
After a plentiful Sweat for
twelve, fourteen, or eighteen
hours, give him fome Refedtive,
as
(30)
as Broth, Caudle, Mace-drink, or
the like $ and ^a little while after
fuffer him to fleep if he can. Then
give him temperate Cordnls by
way of Confection or Julep, or
both 3 which repeat every third or
fourth hour: Alfo at the time
that the Party fettles to fleep, lay
Veficatory Plaifters behind the Ears,
and under the Arm-pits, and alfo
in the Groin.
After he has flept, or endea-
voured it, and his Spirits are pret-
ty well refreih'd, at a moderate
diftance from the firft fweating,
viz^ Eighteen, or Four and Twen-
ty hours, fooner or later, accord-
ing as Symptoms are more or lels
urgent, and his ftrength is able,
repeat the Sweating again • and
fo proceed through the whole
Cures one while Sweating, and
another
[31]
another while refrefhing his Spi-
rits by temperate Cordials and
Sleep $ betwixt whiles admini-
ftring fit Nouriihment, until fuch
time as the Symptoms are abated
whollv, and either the Difeale
terminated, or elfe theMaligni-
tv is driven all out in Boyls or
Carbuncles; which Iioav they
muft be ordered, ftiall be fet
down.
Though the fame kind of Su-
dorificks may be given indifferent-
ly to moft People, yet becaule
there is variety of fuch Medicins,
in refpe<5fc both of the Matter
and Form of them, therefore
fome choice may be had in the
adminiftration of them, that fo
we may comply with the Pa-
tient's taking them beft in this
or that kind of Form 5 and al-
io
[32]
fb that thofe that are hotter be
given to Perfons of a cold Tem-
per, 4,iand thofe Medicines which
are more temperate to iiich whofe
Gonftitutions are hot : I (hall
fet down feveral Forms of Sweat-
ing Medicines, which are given
either in $0tt0tt, JSOUJS, of
Cottons.
take of Small Plague
Water, two Ounces *
Peftilential Vinegar,
half an Ounce ; of Ve-
nice Treacle , one
Dram ; mingle them.
take
Us]
Take of Compound Scordi-
urn Water wo Ounces -
Treacle-Water half an
Ounce, Venice Treacle
one Dram, Salt of
Wormwood one Scru-
ple, Spirit of Vitriol
Six Drops : Mingle
them.
take of Butter Burr-
Water three Ounces,
Venice Treacle, Di-
afcordium, of each one
Drain, ?e(lilentialVme-
gar one Spoonful : Mix
them.
D tati
' [ 34 ]
Take of Carduus Water
Four Ounces, Feftilential
Vinegar One Ounce ,
Feftilential Extract One
Scruple : Mix them.
Or make feme Poflet-
Drink with Feftilential
Vinegar j in a Draught
of it diffoke one Dram,
or a Dram and a half of
any of tbefe Confections,
adding one Scruple of
Salt of Wormwood,
In a Spoonful or two of
Treacle-
[ 35 ]
Treacle - Water , or
Vinegar, or both mix d^
give fifteen or twenty
Drops of Spirit of
Harts-horn j or of the
fimpk Mixture from half
a Dram to a Dram 5
or of Balfamof Sul-
phur, from ten to twenty
Drops, or fifteen Drops
of Elixir Proprietatis,
For the Poorer fort, make
Pojfet-Drink with Peftilential Vine-
gar, and boyl in it fome Butter-
Roots, and give a Draught hot.
Or make this Potion which
^entftttS a 2fra magnifies a-
bove all other Remedies, from
D % the
the Experience of it in a great
Plague once raging in hisCoun-
try.
Take Celandine and
Rue, of each one hand-
/#/,Marigold Flowers
half a handful; kyltbefe
in a Quart of White-
Wine Vinegar -, firain
it out, and keep it in a
Glafs Bottle; give two
or three Spoonfuls; in
which diffohe of Venice
Treacle, or Mithri-
date, one Dram. This
will provoke Sweat
very powerfully.
Some
[37]
Some others commend a De-
coction of Guaiacum, to provoke
Sweat with it, as in the cure of
the French Pox.
A plain Deco&ion of Rue in
White Wine, with a little Vinegar
added to it, is highly commended
by others.
Seeds of Rue pouder'd, and
one Dram of it mixd with half
a Dram of Treacle, diflfolv'd
with White-Wine, is accounted an
excellent Sudorifick.
Sudorifick Medicines may be
given in t&OttUflf thus.
Take of VirginianSnake-
weed, Contrayerva,
D 3 and
[38 1
^Gaicoigne Ywder,
or Lady Kent's Yonder,
of each one Scruple ; give
it in two Spoonfuls of
fojfet Drink, or of a
Cordial Julep, or in Sy~
rup of Gilloflovvers.
T^Pouder of prepar d
Toad one Dram, Pou-
der of Hyacinth half a
Dram : Mingle them.
Take of Bezoartica Mi-
neralis half an Ounce,
sf Species Liberals
two Scruples, Camphire
eight
[39]
eight Grains : Mingle
them.
Take of the Flower of
Sal Armoniac half a
Scruple, of Cerufle of
Antimony one Scruple,
of Bole Armenick
one Scruple : Mingle
them.
Give an^jof thde in a Spoon-
ful or two of any Liquor, or
in a Spoonful of Sack, with as
much Pdtilendal Vinegary half
an hour after, drink a draught
of Poffet- Drink with Mecfefeeet,
or Woodforrel boyl'd in it.
D 4 Take
Take of the Pouder of Ivy
Berries one Dram; give
it in a draught of warm
White-Wine, with a
Spoonful of Veftilential
V inegar.
lake Pouder of the
Roots of Carline
Thiftle ; Give it in the
fame manner, •■
Likewife Vou&er of But-
ter Burr Root, given in
th fame manner, provok-
eth Sweat powerfully, and
expelletb
expelleth the Yoyfon of the
Ylague.
take of Zedoary Root
that is gummy and
found, one Ounce, Sugar
Candy one Ounce and
an half, Camphire half
an Ounce $ mix all in a
fineFouder- TheDofe
is one Dram in fome
diftiird Water.
If the Patient can beft take
his Medicine inaJBOitlS.
Take of Vqnice Treacle
one Dram, Tormentile
Roots, Bole prepar'd,
of
I 4*1
of each one Scrapie , Sy-
rup of Gilloflowers
as much as fufficeth.
T^MXiafcordium.Con-
fe6tio Liberans, of
each half a Dram, or
two Scruples, Salt of
Wormwood one Scru-
pie ,Conferve of Rofes
vitriolated half a Dram,
Syrup of Gillo-
flowers as much as is
fufficienu
Take of Conferve of
Rofes half a Dramy
Balfamof Sulphur,
fifteen
fifteen Drops ; mix them.
Take PofTet Drink
half an hour, or an
hour after any of
thefe.
When many People are fick,
and there is noc leifure to com-
pound every Dole of thefe Medi-
cines feyerally, there (hould be
a large mixture of each kind made
up together, which may imme-
diately, and without trouble be
diftributed into Dofes.
ForSweatingPotions thus.
"take a Quart of Small
Plague Water, of Qom-
pound Water ofScor-
[4+]
dium and Veflilenti-
al Vinegar, of each
a Charter of a Vint,
of Syrup of Gillo-
flowers two Ounces ,
Venice Treacle one
Ounce, of Diafcordi-
um and Confe&io
Liberans, of each half
an Ounce, Peftilenti-
al Extract. Salt of
Wormwood, of each
two Drams ; put all to-
gether in a large Glafs,
pake them well together,
and after it has flood
four and Twenty Hours,
make
I 45 1
make ufe of it: V oar out
three Ounces of the clear,
and two Ounces of it
turbid or Jbafon juft
before : This may ferve
for fourteen or iix-
teen days.
Mix a pOUUet tints.
Take of the Ponder of Con-
lectio Liberans, one
Ounce, Roots of Con-
tray erva, Virginian--
Snakeweed , Tor-
mentile, Bole pre-
par'd, of each two Drams,
oftbeClmsof Crabs
pouderd
( 4« )
pouderdJhalfanOuncejnix
all very mil. The Dofe
is from one Dram to
* one Dram and a half*
or two Drams.
Or take of the Ponders of
Prepard Toad one Ounce,
and of Confe&io Li-
berans half an Ounce, mix
them. Tne Dofe is
from one Dram to
one Dram and a half
For an Eleftuary to be diftri-
buted into feveral Dofes, that of
^ermannus 3ttont>er$e?t>eti is
a very good one, and as he af-
ferts,
r 4i ]
ierts, approved by frequent Ex-
perience.
Take of Diafcordium one
Ounce and a half, of
Venice Treacle two
Drams, of Confedfcio
Hyacinthi one Dram,
Pouderof Nutmegs,
Rue Seeds, Root of
Angelica, Enulacam-
pane, of each one Dram
and a half, Wine Vine-
gar [ or rather Pefti-
lential Vinegar j one
0unce,Oyl of Sulphur
fifteen drops, Syrup of
Juice of Citron as
much
I 4» 1
much as fufficetb : make up
all together. The Dole
is from oneDram and
a half to two Drams;
Or take of Conferve of
Wood Sorrel, half a
found, of Mithridate
four Ounces. TheDofe
is two Drams.
In time of Sweating, give the
Patient Poflet Drink made with
?eftilential Vinegar-, boy] in the
Milk Scordium or Marigo Id Flowers *
if he is very dry, boyl Medefoeet,
or Wood Sorrel; if he is ill at Sto-
mach, and apt to vomit or faint,
give Claret Wine burnt with C/«-
namon
[4?]
namon and Zedoary Root, and Mint
Water mix'd with it : Or elfe
give him Beer boyfd with a
Cruft of Bread and Macet and
fweetn'd with Sugar. Befides, to
the richer fort give now and then
a draught of a Cordial Julep, and
fbme times a Dole of a Cordial E-
lettuary 3 . which kind of Medicines
fhould be given likewife after
Sweating is oyer, once in three
or four hours, of one or other,
to refrefh the Spirits, and to keep
the Malignity from the Heart
Give him no cold Beer in two
or three days. After Sweating
wa(h the Mouth with White-wine
Vinegar and Rofe Water-. Alfo dip
a Spunge in the fame warm i and
gently ftroke the Temples of the
Head, and lSfoftrils with the fame;
E - Betweetf
[ 5° ]
Between whiles give of the Me-
dicines following.
Take Woodforrel Wa-
ter, and Dragon- Wa-
ter, of each Four Ounces $
Scordium Water, two
Ounces -, Treacle Wa-
ter [or Plague Wa-
ter) one Ounce and a
half; Syrup of Gillo-
flowers ( or of Juice
of Citrons) two Ounces;
Pearle finely pou-
der'd one Scruple ; Spi-
rit of Vitriol twelve
Drops : Mix them.
Or
[ 5i ]
Or make a 3>eC0<tfott thus.
Take of Harts -Horn
r2£pdtandI\ory,fff-eacb
three Drams ; a Pear
main fliced, Wood-
iorrel half an handful:
Boy I phefe in three Vint s
of Water, till a third
fart is wafied ; Strain
it on two Ounces of Con-
f erve of GIHolfowers,
or Woodiorrel , or
Red Rofes : Ijt it
infufe anhour: then fir it,
andjlrain it out : Give a
Quarter of a V{wt warm.
Whereas we give Emulfions
E 2 made
[52]
made with Itich a Deco&ion and
Almonds, and cold Seeds in Fevers,
SDiemet'&tOefc affirms, upon his
frequent Obfervation, Emulfions
never do well in the Plague.
Take of the Conferve
of Woodforrel four
ounces, of the Rob of
Goosberries or Raf-
berries two Ounces ,
Species Diarrhodon
Abbatis two Drams ,
Confedionis Libe-
rantis one Dram and a
half, of Pfepar'd Pearl
half a Dram, j Led Co-
ral prepar'd one Dram,
with a f&fficient quantity
[53]
of Syrup of Juice of
Citron : Let it be
made an Opiate :
The Dofe is one
or two Drams often
in a day.
Sometimes the Plague is accom-
panied with dangerous Symptoms,
to which if Remedies are not fud-
denly- applied, all we do befides
is to little purpofe. Such Acci-
dent?, which call for refpedive
ways of Cure, are chiefly Fluxes
of Blood, and Loofnefs of the Belly y
and Vomiting.
The fir ft ufe to happen feve-
ral ways, viz- at the Nofe and
Mouth, by Stool or Urine, by
the Hemorrhoids, and in Women
by Menftrual Purgations: Some
V 3 Of
[ 54 ]
of which, as by Urine always,
and oft-times by Stool, are mor-
tal 5 none of them ever tend to
good Therefore in afl foch cafes,
Remedies muft be adroiniftred
which may ftop Bleeding : And
though Sweating and Refe&ion of
the Spirits be (till the principal
intention of Cure ; yet the other
muft come in as collateral with
both of them 3 and Medicines
that reftrain Fluxes of Blood be
mixed both with Sudorificks and
other Cordials, and alfo be admi-
niftred with Diet too.
In all Hemorrhages Sudorificks
muft be compounded of Medi-
cines that are temperate, and net
aftringent
For
[55]
For p0tl0l?S they be made thus
Take Pimpernel Water,
or Tormentil Water
tffl Ounces, of Scordi-
um Water fix Drams,
■ of Vinegar that has
Tormentil Roots in-
fus'd in it, two Drams,
Confeclion of Hya-
cinth one Dram, ofpte-
par'd Bole half a Dram,
Extract of Tormen-
til one Scruple, ' of Sy-
rup of Coral three
Drams,
E4. Or
[56] .
Or make Poflet Drink
with Tormentil Vine-
gar, kjl in it a Root
of Tormentil and
Biftort ; in one draught
of it difjolve of Venice
Treacle two Scruples,
Confection of Hya-
cinth, prepar'd Bole,
of each one Scruple.
Make this Afozeme, and give
two or three Ounces three or four
times in a day.
Take of TormentilRoots
half an Ounce, Biftort
three Drams, Red San-
ders
[57]
ders one Dram, of
Pomegranate Peel one
Dram,St. Johns Wort,
Plantane and Burnet,
of each half a handful $
Flowers of Rofes,
and Pomegranates ,
of each one Dram and a
half; fl/PlantaneSeeds
one Dram : Boy I thefe in
three Vints of Water till
a Tint is wafted ; fir ah
it, and add to it of Sy-
rup of Coral two
Ounces, Confection of
Hyacinth two Drams ;
Mingle them.
$0ttDt¥£
i 58 ]
I^OUDCfS may be com-
pounded thus.
Take of Confeclio Li-
berans, or Confecti-
on of Hyacinth half
a Dram i Tormentil
Roots, Fine Bole, of
each one Scruple $ Pearl
and Coral prepar'd,
of each half a Scruple :
Give it in a Spoonful
of Syrup of Coral,with
a Spoonful of 'Tor-
mentil Vinegar.
Make
[59]
Make a 20OlttS thus.
Tab Confection of
Hyacinth and Ve-
nice Treacle, of each
half a Ik am ; Tormen-
til Roots and pre-
par'd Bole, of each one
Scruple; of Extract of
Tormentil half a Scru-
ple, of prepar'd Pearl
fix Grams, of Syrup
of Coral as much as is
fufficient.
For JttfcpS and Confectf-
OH0, to give in, and betwixt
Sweating,
{6o)
Sweating, they be compounded
thus.
Hake of Medefweet Wa-
ter eight Ounces, fmall
Plague Water ,Scordi-
um Compound Wa-
ter, of each three Ounces ;
of Syrup of Coral
two Ounces, ConfecTd-
on of Hyacinth two
Drams, of Tormentil
Vinegar half an Ounce ±
Mix them : Give four
or five Spoonfuls e-
very third hour.
Or take of Conierve of
Red
[61 ]
Red Rofes four Ounces,
of prepard Coral two
Drams, of prepared
Pearl half a Dram,
Confection of Hya-
cinth and Alkermes,
of each one Dram, of
Tormentil Vinegar
half an Ounce i or as much
as is fufficient : Make it
up into an Electuary :
Give once in three
or four hours as
much as a Nutmeg.
Thefe kinds of Remedies, which
are proper in Hemorrhages, are
alio to be ufcd jn Fluxes of the
Belly 5 likewife by Women with
Child,
[62]
Child, becaufe other more hot
Medicines may provoke an Abor-
tion.
Make TOmentil ^Knegac thus.
Take Roots of Tor-
mentil, Biftort dried
and fliced, of each an
Ounce, Cinnamon half
an Ounce, Red Sanders
one Dram : Bruife all
very well, and put to it a
Quart ^White-Wine
Vinegar j digejl it in
a common Furnace for
four days : At the fame
time take Red and
White Coral finely
pouder'd,
pouder d, of each half
an Ounce ; Dragons
Blood, Blood-Stone,
of each one Dram ; Fine
Bole, Pwo Drams : Di-
gefi thefe in the fame
manner with a Quart of
Vinegar : Thenftrain
out both the Li-
quors, and mix them.
Let Cjetratf of %tnu}tntn
Roots be made thus.
Take Tormentil and Bi~
flort-Roots, of each one
Ounce ; of Cinnamon
half an Ounce, of Red
Sanders
[ H ]
Sanders two Drams ;
Salt of Wormwood
half an Ounce -, brdfe
all together, adding of
Tormentil Vinegar
two Ounces ; put it in
a Vejjel to digeft with
three Pints of Mede-
fvveet Water : Strain
it, and evaporate it with
a gentle heat in Balneo
Maria? to the Confijlen-
cy of Honey,
In the Cure of the Plague^ if
a courfe of Sweating, timely ad-
miniftred, do plentifully facceed,
and withal other private Excre-
tions be either prevented or pre-
fentfy
[«5]
fently foppreft, the Patient may
be judg'd to be in a hopeful
condition $ and fometimes the
Venom is quite expelPd, without
any other accident : But for the
moft part? becaufe the Poyfon,
by fermenting the Blood and
Humours, is foon greatly en-
creas'd 3 fo that all of it, efpe-
cially the groffer Particles, can*
not eafily evaporate, it fettles
in the outward Parts, and there
caufeth the fweliing and break-
ing out of divers kinds : Thofe
that require any application of
Remedies, are JBOflSand €$X*
fioncles.
The firft of thefe commonly
happen in Parts that are very
Glandujous 5 as behind the Ears,
under the Armpits, and in the
F Groin:
[ 66 ]
Groin : They arife with a hard
Swelling, which ought to fup-
puratc and break, and the Cor-
ruption to be drawrn all out, by
the running of the Sore for fome
time : Thefe Tumors calPd
23ttb0'£, fhould be ordered thus.
If a Blifter is not raised on,
or near the place already, 'tis
good to apply a Veficatory Plai-
ner juft below it, but on the
Tumor it felf to apply fome
drawing Medicine, to attract the
Venom outward 3 as at fir ft, the
Fundament of fome living Fowl,
or elfe a Colewort-Leaf dipt in
fcalding Water, and dried again,
and fmeard over with Oyl of
Lilliei or Scorpions. To ripen
the Sore, lay on Pultifes or Plai-
fters 5 or rather firft Pultifes, and
then
.;■'[*».]
then Plaifters, when it tends to
fuppuration 5 which Ihould be re-
new'd every twelve hours acleaft.
For ^ttlttfeSu
Take an Onion and
White Lilly Roots,
boyl them, or elfe wrap
them in a wet Paper,
and roafi them in the
Emkrs, afterward Jlamp
loth together, adding a
little Treacle,^ Qyl
of Lillies as much as
is fuffeient : Or elfe roafi
a Fig with either or
both- thefe akve-namd,
F 2 and
[ 68 ]
and make a Pultis in the
fame manner: Or elfe
with either , or alljibove-
named Remedies, add
an handful of Scabious
or Sorrel wajh'd ; and
after beat all into a
fultis.
Take Pimpernel roa-
fted on the Embers,
mollife it with Oyl
of Scorpions, adding
a little Pouder of
Myrrh and Venice
Treacle, and lay it to
the Sore.
Some
Some do commend Jive
Frogs to be applyed,
and renew d as oft as they
die.
For a Plaijler to break the
Sore when it is o-
perid, Diachylon with
Gums; or elfe thofe two
Emplaifters, viz. Em-
plaftrum Paracelfi,
and de Fuligihe, men-
tioned by SMemerbroeft,
pag.21 3. ^ataceifits his
Plaifter is there thus
order'd to be made.
F 3 Take
[70]
Take 0/ GumOppopa-
nax two Ounces, Sera-
phin or Sagapen four
Ounces ,Bdellium three
Ounces , Galbanum
one Ounce, Olibanum
two Drams i let them he
dijfoked in Vinegar,
and firaind, and ad-
ding the Pouder of a
dried Toad and
Frog , of Natural
Brimflone one Ounce,
of Camphire one
Dram : Let it be
made a Plaifter to
be
t 71 ]
be put upon the
Tumor, and renew-
ed every fix hours.
Cmpiaftvran nt Mitfnt,
or taiatftet of &oot, is thus
made.
Take of Chimney Soot
ten Drams , Leaven ,
Turpentine, Butter,
of each one Ounce, Ve-
nice Sope one Ounce
and a half of Honey
of Rofes fix Drams,
Common Salt half
an Ounce, the Whites
of two Eggs, Trea-
F 4 cle
[ 72 ]
cle and Mithridate,
of each two Drams :
Let them be mixed.
For the Voorer fort,
Shoemakers Wax is
as good as any.
If when the Tumor is ripen'd,
it do not foon break of k felf,
it is beft to open it by Incifion 5
and when it is broken, put in a
Pledget dipp'd in Turpentine
mix cl with the Tolk of an Egg 5
or drefs it with Bafilkon alone,
or the Liniment of Arceus.
A CatftttttCiC, which is the
other kind of Plague-Sore, which
requires the operation of the
hand, happens but feldom in
any of the EmunCtories [ and
when
[ 73 ]
when it does it portends ill ] but
ufeth to be in mod places elfe :
It arifeth with angry Puftules,
ibmetimes one, fometimes many 5
which foon grow difcolour'd,
and tend to Mortification, and
the fubftance mortified muft
be caft out, and then the hol-
low Ulcer which remains muft be
healed.
When a Carbuncle firft appears,
Dfemetfjroefe commends to be
applied to it for the firft and fe-
cond day, a Red Colewort Leafc
fmear'd over with Rape Oyl : The
fame Author mentions a Pubis
which he tis'd for the mod part,
renewing it three or four times
in four and twenty hours, till the
Core was taken out 5 and then
Digeftive Medicines, and others
fucceed-
fucceedingly are to be us'd, as in
other Vlcers.
'take Scabious and De-
vils Bit, of each two
or three handfuls, Jiamp
them, and then beat them
with the Yolks of
two Eggs, and a little
Salt i lay it to the
Carbuncle warm, re-
newing it three times in
a day at leafl.
F I N I S.
I
COUNT WAY LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
RA
P7 W67
RARE BOOKS DEPARTMENT
■PPilF